tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432461418078268195.comments2024-03-16T09:22:51.712+00:00Butterfly NotesNick Morganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06431235724349702199noreply@blogger.comBlogger1346125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432461418078268195.post-54555811464909415212024-03-16T09:22:51.712+00:002024-03-16T09:22:51.712+00:00Thank you Peter.Thank you Peter.Nick Morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06431235724349702199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432461418078268195.post-6474664061699772252024-03-09T13:04:44.047+00:002024-03-09T13:04:44.047+00:00Interesting report Nick.Look forward to part 2.Interesting report Nick.Look forward to part 2.Peter Hunthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11661293125506181887noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432461418078268195.post-32173291411320938312024-02-23T16:12:08.339+00:002024-02-23T16:12:08.339+00:00Hi Nick :=)
I don't answer questions on my blo...Hi Nick :=)<br />I don't answer questions on my blog any more, so came over to tell you that the orchid I thought I had, was not an orchid at all but a Hoya, a Hoya Carnosa. I love this plant and it's flowers have the most wonderful perfume.Thanks for explaining how the counting is done, which makes perfect sense.Breathtakinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03883608347810648676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432461418078268195.post-25357653710742180732024-02-23T00:17:50.769+00:002024-02-23T00:17:50.769+00:00Hello Sonjia. Thank you for visiting. I am sorry t...Hello Sonjia. Thank you for visiting. I am sorry to hear you can't tend your garden as much these days. It must be upsetting to see it become overgrown. It is really interesting to hear that there are fewer butterflies as it becomes wilder. We think that wild spaces are best for them, but of course we now have to manage our wild spaces to try to make them ideal for butterflies or other wildlife. Without the right balance of herbivores and predators places tend to develop into rank grasses and thick shrubs.<br />Our formal transects are monitored once a week. Other records are those that volunteers see when out and about. There is a slim chance that some butterflies may be recorded more than once, but the important thing is that recording is consistent year on year. When you think of it, we are only recording a fraction of the butterflies that are out there, but enough to give a good picture of how each species is doing.Nick Morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06431235724349702199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432461418078268195.post-3088823153712448922024-02-23T00:05:54.474+00:002024-02-23T00:05:54.474+00:00Thank you Bob. That is interesting to know.Thank you Bob. That is interesting to know.Nick Morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06431235724349702199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432461418078268195.post-21794391990805285092024-02-22T09:54:52.384+00:002024-02-22T09:54:52.384+00:00Hello Nick :=)
So sorry it has taken me so long to...Hello Nick :=)<br />So sorry it has taken me so long to visit you. Time gets away from me as I get older, and what used to take me an hour to do ,turns into an afternoon or morning. Because my garden is neglected I hardly see any butterflies except Cabbage Whites, but when I first started my blog I took loads of photographs of them because there were all kinds of flowers in my garden which attracted them. Sadly I can't garden any more, and only the toughest plants survive, not always butterfly friendly.It's sad but that's just the way it is, When I see all your lovely pictures, it reminds me of those early days when I was taking photos of butterflies every day, enjoying each new species I found to photograph. I really don't know how it is possible to take note of how many different species you encounter.. How do you know you have not counted the same butterfly you saw the day before? I'm glad you have help from various sources to help with these sightings. I enjoyed seeing your butterfly images Nick and hope that East Lothian butterflies prosper. Good luck!:=)<br />All the best <br />Sonjia..Breathtakinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03883608347810648676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432461418078268195.post-51659341599019318032024-01-31T09:44:05.909+00:002024-01-31T09:44:05.909+00:00Good to hear from the other end of Britain and man...Good to hear from the other end of Britain and many species that did well in the north mirrored the south. A few differences but most were similar!!Bob Eade.https://www.blogger.com/profile/15087975886344058082noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432461418078268195.post-32385277679730646362023-12-12T15:53:24.988+00:002023-12-12T15:53:24.988+00:00Hello Nick :=)
It's incredible that you are se...Hello Nick :=)<br />It's incredible that you are seeing caterpillars and butterflies so late in the year in such cold conditions, as since September I haven't seen any. Great captures with your cell phone. It's a shame the Comma did not survive , but you did your best to help it. We should never ever take nature for granted, what may be common to us, in another country where they never see our birds they are considered great beauties, which of course they are, and the more I watch and photograph them the more I appreciate their beauty. Thank you for your visits!:=)<br />All the best<br />Sonjia.Breathtakinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03883608347810648676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432461418078268195.post-89347268850404697792023-11-18T11:19:16.352+00:002023-11-18T11:19:16.352+00:00Thank you Guillermo. It was a fun butterfly to rea...Thank you Guillermo. It was a fun butterfly to rear. It is interesting that they use Elm as a food plant there. In England they used to primarily lay eggs on Hops plants, but as Hops became less commonly grown they switched to Nettles and consequently have spread up to Scotland. Nick Morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06431235724349702199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432461418078268195.post-74717170301047828082023-11-16T17:33:59.814+00:002023-11-16T17:33:59.814+00:00Hi Nick :=)
Thank you for the name of the plant I ...Hi Nick :=)<br />Thank you for the name of the plant I had forgotten the name of. Soon after I saw the small butterfly, it started to rain very heavily We have had stormy weather ever since, high velocity winds which moved my swinging seat several meters away. I haven't been able to check the Geranium leaves very often, and have never been able to find a caterpillar when I did. The birds are always searching for food inside the feeders, so it's more than likely that they ate whatever caterpillars that survived the stormy wet weather. I am going to post less often and visit less frequently as I get a lot of pain in my left knee, and have to undergo a total knee replacement surgery. I will see how I go on.<br />All the best<br />Sonjia Breathtakinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03883608347810648676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432461418078268195.post-64286825166378843732023-11-05T13:23:45.480+00:002023-11-05T13:23:45.480+00:00Reading your blog is such a pleasure. I loved the ...Reading your blog is such a pleasure. I loved the progress of the comma's development. Here in my area commas tend to eat elm leaves, and they're quite abundant near the river.Guillermo García-Saúco https://www.blogger.com/profile/01967063255803852208noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432461418078268195.post-45929787123653899692023-10-21T13:01:45.266+01:002023-10-21T13:01:45.266+01:00Thank you Peter. There were a lot of Comma caterpi...Thank you Peter. There were a lot of Comma caterpillars around this year. I have only previously found two. One advantage of the Pine Marten eating our hens I suppose is the lush growth of nettles in the old hen run. There are still a few Comma and Red Admiral chrysalises out there. I wonder if they will manage to emerge this year?Nick Morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06431235724349702199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432461418078268195.post-77914874311119542602023-10-19T15:20:57.978+01:002023-10-19T15:20:57.978+01:00great diary of comma progress and ace photos!
I...great diary of comma progress and ace photos!<br />I've never seen a comma caterpillar.pbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01230034361158150771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432461418078268195.post-84830091945436758862023-10-18T22:08:46.184+01:002023-10-18T22:08:46.184+01:00Thank you Sonjia. It is lovely being able to watch...Thank you Sonjia. It is lovely being able to watch the butterflies laying eggs and seeing the caterpillars and chrysalises just outside the window. There are still several Red Admiral and Comma chrysalises in the nettles, despite quite a few nights of frosts.Nick Morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06431235724349702199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432461418078268195.post-16507070810530909572023-10-12T18:01:30.886+01:002023-10-12T18:01:30.886+01:00Hello Nick, :=)
How exciting, and how fortunate f...Hello Nick, :=) <br />How exciting, and how fortunate for you that the butterflies lay their eggs outside your large study window where you have a good view of the the butterflies.Great photography of the development of the Comma. I must try to find some Nettles!<br />Thank you once more for the ID of the butterfly on the Piracantha.<br />Best wishes<br />Sonjia.. Breathtakinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03883608347810648676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432461418078268195.post-92074516923393504442023-10-10T15:58:01.714+01:002023-10-10T15:58:01.714+01:00Hello again Nick, You are quite right about the bu...Hello again Nick, You are quite right about the butterfly being a Geranium Bronze. How you could tell from that very poor photo I do not know.! Are they to be seen where you live ? I have now taken better photos and it is quite a distinctive butterfly, but unfortunately a pest, as after checking my geraniums they have several eggs and the Caterpillars will eat their way through my geraniums.<br />I will credit you for the ID you gave me.<br />Thank you Nick, you are a good friend.Breathtakinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03883608347810648676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432461418078268195.post-66502402736532821312023-10-07T20:26:13.523+01:002023-10-07T20:26:13.523+01:00Hi Sonjia,
If you check the Geranium buds you may ...Hi Sonjia,<br />If you check the Geranium buds you may see small light green eggs on the sepals.Nick Morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06431235724349702199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432461418078268195.post-6840777880507085732023-10-07T20:08:43.238+01:002023-10-07T20:08:43.238+01:00Thank you Nick.:=) It did cross my mind that it co...Thank you Nick.:=) It did cross my mind that it could be a Hornet, because of those long thin wings and it's size, and I'm inclined to think it is. The butterfly was a surprise as I have never heard of the one you suggested it might be. I must look it up and check the Geranium leaves for eggs.<br />Many Thanks for your help.Breathtakinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03883608347810648676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432461418078268195.post-79492803590475168262023-10-07T13:05:13.036+01:002023-10-07T13:05:13.036+01:00Hi Nick! :=)
Could you please have a look at my la...Hi Nick! :=)<br />Could you please have a look at my latest post and tell me what kind of wasp I have featured. I'm not even sure it is a wasp!! I think you will know better than anyone what it is.<br />Thank you ! <br />Breathtakinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03883608347810648676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432461418078268195.post-65072230543480576902023-10-03T21:25:30.538+01:002023-10-03T21:25:30.538+01:00Hi Sonjia,
Nettles are seen by many as weeds, but ...Hi Sonjia,<br />Nettles are seen by many as weeds, but they are a great food source for many creatures. I just found a Comma caterpillar on a nettle yesterday and there are loads of Red Admiral chrysalises still.Nick Morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06431235724349702199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432461418078268195.post-6021820275250905052023-10-01T20:59:05.721+01:002023-10-01T20:59:05.721+01:00Hello Nick :=)
I really enjoyed reading your post ...Hello Nick :=)<br />I really enjoyed reading your post and the photos of the various stages of development of the Red Admiral. I saw one only yesterday and am grateful to you for all the information. I now know what an egg looks like, and also the caterpillar.Unfortunately I haven't seen any nettles in my garden.I so admire your dedication in increasing the population of butterflies.<br />All the best<br />Sonjia.<br />Breathtakinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03883608347810648676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432461418078268195.post-8381318077697369822023-08-30T22:09:40.753+01:002023-08-30T22:09:40.753+01:00Gracias Lola. Espero visitar Asturias algún día.Gracias Lola. Espero visitar Asturias algún día.Nick Morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06431235724349702199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432461418078268195.post-79339660959359499782023-07-14T20:00:02.507+01:002023-07-14T20:00:02.507+01:00Hello Colette,
Thank you for getting in touch. It ...Hello Colette,<br />Thank you for getting in touch. It is really interesting to hear that Red Admirals are also attracted to Oak trees in Texas. I have since read several theories why this is so, but no one seems to know. Those I saw did appear to be feeding from the areas where dead branches were attached to living branches. I can only assume that they were gaining minerals or sustenance. Interesting, though, that it appears to have only been observed on Oaks, and not other species of trees.<br />I built an Oak bench a couple of years ago from a tree that had been felled. Later that summer I counted about 20 Red Admirals on it. In the years since, I have only seen one or two on there on sunny days. I wonder the Red Admirals are after the tannin in the wood.<br />Males of many species of butterflies will drink from mud to acquire minerals that they require before they mate. I wonder if there is something similar with Red Admirals and those you saw spiraling together were displaying courtship behaviour. Nick Morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06431235724349702199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432461418078268195.post-42480473619069440082023-07-14T04:38:41.957+01:002023-07-14T04:38:41.957+01:00I am so glad I found this post! I realize your pos...I am so glad I found this post! I realize your post is from 2016... now it's 2023. like the butterflies, time flies. Ok, sorry... <br />About a week ago I noticed a butterfly in an oak in our yard as I watered my garden. Suddenly the butterfly started flying with another butterfly, spinning in the air. As they landed a bit higher, I noticed that there were butterflies all over the tree from the trunk to every branch, reminding me of a Christmas tree, almost. Every so often, several of the butterflies would peel off, start swirling around one another seeming to dance together in the sky! Then they'd land onto another part of the tree higher or lower...it was such a lovely sight! The butterflies were Red Admirals. Some wound feed for long periods without moving while most fed them swirled. My dogs were as fascinated as I. I have returned every day since and I have continued to find the Red Admirals feeding. I noticed sap had dropped from the oak onto the nearby cast iron plants. I had never thought that butterflies fed on oaks. I wonder why only Red Admirals seem to be the only butterflies feeding on that oak. I see many other kinds of butterflies around my yard. I live in Austin, Texas, USA. It's fascinating to me that these lovely little butterflies are swarming here on our oaks as well as on yours way across the ocean and probably everywhere the world over. Such beautiful creatures! Colette Clarke Torres (Glass Covered Heart)https://www.blogger.com/profile/07673957699708687229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7432461418078268195.post-71308926176268220292023-07-05T20:22:01.894+01:002023-07-05T20:22:01.894+01:00Thanks Peter.Thanks Peter.Nick Morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06431235724349702199noreply@blogger.com